The French memory clinics network system

Abstract

In France, the management of patients with neurocognitive disorders is based on a network of memory clinics. The current operating mode is presented with projects aiming to its improvement, and potential evolution. Interviews were conducted at Memory resources and research centers (CMRR) as well as at the Regional health authorities (ARS) on organization, difficulties, innovation and projects for care management of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related disorder. Twenty-seven semi-structured interviews were performed at the CMRR, and ten with the ARS. The collaboration with the medico-social and associative sectors was unequal. All CMRR were involved in clinical research. The links between ARS and CMRR were sometimes difficult with a lack of dialogue on the projects. However, many innovative plans have been led by the memory clinics and have sometimes been supported by the Health authorities: a therapeutic education program for patients with mild cognitive disorders, deployment of tele-medicine consultations to diagnose neurocognitive disorders in nursing home residents, setting of a network for management of behavioral disorders, creation of a mobile team specialized in clinical research, and creation of a multidisciplinary consultation following diagnosis to work on a personalized care plan. Experienced professionals mentioned a mature and efficient structure of the care management system thanks to the CMRRs' labeling and the different Alzheimer's national plans. However, this highly specialized system does not meet the demands of integrated care and should adapt to the increasing prevalence of patients. Therefore, structuration of primary care should be an emerging subject of reflection at national and international level.